1,298 Lacey Properties to be Auctioned Off at Annual Lien Sale

More than 1,200 Lacey properties will be auctioned off at the township’s annual lien sale on Friday, Jan. 25 at 9 a.m. The number of properties on the tax sale list increased 48 percent since January 2012.

As of Jan. 22, the total sale amount for all 1,298 properties is $1,481,486. This was an increase from

The township will auction off the outstanding balance on each property, Collector of the Taxing District of Lacey Township Sharon Sulecki previously said. The balance is determined by the amount in uncollected municipal taxes — property, water, and sewer.

Uncollected taxes range anywhere from just $2.97 to $35,400.

The property owner with the most in uncollected taxes is Edrich Corporation located at 701 S. Main St., where the Shark Fin Inn used to operate. The company owes $35,400.34.

Taxpayers may decide not to pay their taxes for a variety of reasons, Township Administrator and Municipal Clerk Veronica Laureigh previously said. But the shortfall is accounted for in the budget each year under the Reserve for Uncollected Taxes.

Interest accrues daily on uncollected taxes and if the number exceeds $10,000, there is a 6 percent penalty, Sulecki previously said.

Some taxpayers have an escrow account for taxes with mortgage companies. In many cases, those mortgage companies failed to pay the taxes for “some reason,” she said. There could have been a default, the home is foreclosed or there was a breach in the escrow agreement.

Once uncollected taxes are accounted for the properties are put on the lien sale.

At the auction, the potential lien holder bids on the property and pays the township, Sulecki previously said. In return, they’ll get a tax sale certificate, which guarantees that they’ll get reimbursed.

Tax sale certificates can earn interest up to 18 percent, depending on the winning percentage bid at the auction, according to the state’s Division of Local Government Services.

For those whose property is being auctioned off, Sulecki likened it to borrowing on a mortgage. The money is being lent to them until they pay it themselves or until the home is foreclosed upon.

Below is a list of the top 10 taxpayers who have failed to pay their taxes organized by owner name, property location and principal due:

1. Edrich Corp., South Main Street, owes the most taxes for a single property at $35,400.
2. Northeast Passage Inc., owner of 8 properties in Lacey totaling $24,713.21.
3. Jennifer Cavalier, owns 11 properties in Lacey totaling $16,092.23.
4. Steven Glodack, South River Drive, $14,154.43.
5. Dolores and Thomas, Douglas Hun, Oxford Road, $13,985.59.
6. Jack and Michelle Sandella, Oak Hill Court, $12,122.31.
7. Brian and Deborah Deane, Laurel Boulevard, $11,729.16
8. Herlihy, John P Inc. MPP, Orlando Drive, $10,034.90.
9. Sheryl Schomer, Capstan Drive, $9,040.04.
10. M. Zillante and Rafhael Zillani Trust, Sunrise Boulevard, $8,212.21